2. JOHN KEY (Leader of the Opposition) Link to this
to the Prime Minister
Does she have confidence in the Minister of Corrections and his department; if so, why?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK (Prime Minister) Link to this
As I told the member in response to exactly the same question yesterday, yes, because the Minister is hard-working and conscientious. Although the department clearly has room to improve, I am confident that with its current leadership, that will happen.
If the Prime Minister has confidence in the Minister of Corrections, why was he not allowed to front up to the media on the release of the three reports, and why was he not allowed to front up the debate in Parliament yesterday?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
I also addressed that issue in response to questions yesterday. The issue cuts across three Ministers’ responsibilities. It cuts across those of the Attorney-General, who appoints the Parole Board, it cuts across those of the Minister of Justice, who is responsible for criminal justice policy, and it cuts across the portfolio of the Minister of Corrections, who is responsible for operations. That is why I, as Prime Minister, decided to speak last week, and that is why the Deputy Prime Minister spoke yesterday.
What does it say about the Minister of Corrections that yesterday in Parliament he was almost thinking of apologising to the family of Karl Kuchenbecker because the tragic death of their son was being debated in Parliament, but that he frankly could not be bothered to actually apologise to them for the fact that their son died with the responsibility lying with his department?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
I am advised that when the Minister and the local member of Parliament met with the family, the Minister said to them, in person, that he was very sorry for what had happened.
Madam SPEAKERIf the Minister of Corrections is so keen to have his apology transmitted to the family, why does he not say it in Parliament then, rather than just in private?
If members on the Government benches do not be quiet so that the member can be heard, they will be leaving the Chamber, too.
Does the Prime Minister recall that in 1994 she stated, in relation to the Michael Joseph Savage team: “He knew the answers lay in the Government taking responsibility. Nothing has changed. That is still the right answer.”, or is that just another example of the “Maharey principle”: what one says in Opposition does not quite work when one is in Government?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
If the member had bothered to complete his historical research, he would have found that in the term of the first Labour Government, the concept of a Minister being set out as responsible and not to blame was fully articulated.